Meyer lemon coming back from the dead...

11 years ago

I have a meyer lemon that almost wound up in the compost bin, but has come back to life. Where it was once completely barren, in the last 2 months it is now covered in leaves and blooms. My questions are first, when should I give it some fertilizer (I've heard that plants under stress shouldn't be fertilized, but I'm not sure if it's still stressed), and second, when should I repot it? Finally, every so often I find tiny little green insects and/or tiny little white insects on the leaves. I've been spraying with Captain Jack's Deadbug Brew, and the plant still looks very healthy, but should I be doing anything else?

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Comments (7)

greenman28 NorCal 7b/8a
11 years ago
Well that's great news :-)
Meyer's are especially sensitive to light and temperature changes, and they're also "hungry" Citrus plants. If it's blooming, it needs nutrients...so resume fertilization immediately. A fertilizer in a 3:1:2 ratio is excellent for Meyer's.

Keep after those pests (aphid? whitefly?) and the tree should be fine. A healthy, regularly fertilized tree will be able to resist and recover from pest damage.

The very best time to re-pot would have been between flushes of growth in the past two months (given your So Cal location), but I understand that the tree was recovering. If the plant is healthy enough now, it should be fine with a re-potting, though. I've certainly re-potted Citrus at worse times of the year. Can you post a picture of the tree?

Josh
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vp_78
Original Author
11 years ago
Yep, I'll take a pic tomorrow morning and post it!
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Garret, the mix you speak of using is not appropiate for your tree if it is the one that I think it is that holds water far too long and break down only after a few weeks.. I have used it and killed a many plants with it, especially citrus. Just a heads up. I would use a mix that contains very few fine particles and that is very porous. Even one part of that mix to 2- 5 parts of perlite would be better. You know your area more than any of us and you would be able to judge whether your mix is drying out in a timely manner and whether or not that same mix is allowing the roots to breathe by good gas exchange every time you water. One that allows you to water more frequently without fear of root rot and salt deposit build up which is likely the demise of your tree. The root rot caused from too much moisture for too long and the salt deposits that is. A mix that will not compact and suffocate your roots causing you to have to start all over again and possibly loose another tree. Right now, your tree is VERY weak. You take your chance in using a wick in the hopes of that your mix will drain better and dry out more rapidly. OR, you can always risk repotting it, sort of a 911 thing and hope it perks up right away and that it does not shock your tree after what it's going through. I mean a full bareroot into a much better mix. You live down south like that? You have the advantage of much nicer weather and warmer days than me. Your sun also works much harder than mine. Why would you need supplemental lighting? Your sunny days in that tent, which I assume is very bright should be sufficient enough. Mike:-) This post was edited by meyermike_1micha on Wed, Jan 16, 13 at 15:49
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User
11 years ago
mine did nothing for an entire year - it simply sat in its pot with a dozen scabby leaves throughout its first summer and all winter until finally, just a week ago - little green leaves appearing. It was days away from compost death....but now - revivified!
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calistoga_al ca 15 usda 9
11 years ago
I think most on this forum are agreed that ALL container grown plants require regular fertilizer, and that citrus require more than most. Here we are expecting not only flowers but fruit, and if we do not fertilize the plant is left with only what can be produced by the leafs, which without fertilizer, will be few and far between. It is recommended at least a tablespoon per plant, of citrus labeled fertilizer, if available, monthly, year around. Most citrus will have fruit on the tree year around, and will not have a real dormant period. Al
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David Shawver
11 years ago
Following the principles of the folks at Earthbox I've found a small amount of granulated slow release fertilizer works really well on most container plants including Meyers and Mexican limes. Chose your favorite organic or synthetic. Mine have blossomed like crazy this year and I'm expecting a lot of fruit. My wifes Malungai, Calamansi, Papaya, Guava also look to possibly fruit this year.
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vp_78
Original Author
11 years ago
Awesome, will get fertilizing! I have some E.B. Stone citrus fertilizer that I'll use today! And here's a pic of said lemon, just leafing and budding out!

{{gwi:28542}}
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greenman28 NorCal 7b/8a
11 years ago
Coming back nicely!

Josh
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Meyer lemon coming back from the dead...

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Meyer lemon coming back from the dead...

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greenman28 NorCal 7b/8a

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